Afleveringen
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A former Aston University student is running a charity that is successfully âtalent scoutingâ homeless people to get them off the streets and into work.
Christy Acton used lessons learned from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme at Aston University to set up Standing Tall. This charity provides employment opportunities to homeless people trying to turn their lives around.
Mr Acton, the founder and chief executive of Standing Tall, was talking about his experiences in the latest episode of the âAston means business' podcast, presented by journalist Steve Dyson.
He said Standing Tall, which started in 2020 during Covid lockdown, had since helped almost a hundred people. And the success of the initiative, launched in Birmingham and now operating in six cities, is encapsulated by âSteveâ, who was helped off the streets and into a job, and has now just got married.
Mr Acton said he got the idea while managing a night shelter in Birmingham and seeing some people who were âready for full-time work:
âWe knew a couple of businesses in the city and matched up some of the people and it went really well. They grabbed the opportunity and were able to get ready to get their own place. I thought this has got potential.â
He said the charity, which also operates in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Bristol, works with companies who have stable, full-time jobs available:
âWe then go and find the right person who has been through homelessness, who has the talent and the motivation to work hard.â
Mr Acton says they have a member of staff in each city:
âWe call them talent scouts, and thatâs entirely intentional because thatâs what we do; we go and find the talent.â
Once a homeless person is ready to start a full-time job, Standing Tall also places with a host, someone with a spare room in their home where they can live for six months until they are ready to get their own place.
âWe are being really careful to work with somebody for a period of time before we decide if one of our jobs is right for them. At the moment, 80 per cent of the people we are helping are in the same job one year later.â
Mr Acton said what he learnt on the Aston University programme helped him build up Standing Tall:
âWhilst we are a charity, we are also a trading business. We charge a placement fee for each person we match, which enables us to have financial independence.â
Also interviewed in the podcast was Michael Lambe, managing director of family business M. Lambe Construction, which offers entry level positions to people matched by the charity.
Tragically, Mr Lambe lost his younger brother, also named Christy, two years ago following long-term mental health issues.
Mr Lambe said:
âIt gave us pause for thought about what was important in life, what the business really was for.â
The result was the Christy Lambe Foundation which supports a number of local charities, including Standing Tall.
âWeâre an avid supporter because we have seen the impact it has on peopleâs lives. For me, it became clear very quickly that we have to do something positive with all the pain that we all felt.
âFundamentally, business is an under-utilised tool for social good and there are opportunities within any organisation to make a difference.â
That is certainly true of âSteveâ, who had been living on the streets for several months after splitting up with his wife.
Mr Acton, who met him in 2021, added: âHe used to be a plasterer by trade, so at the time we had a role at Lambeâs and matched him up. He moved in with a host for six months and was then able to get his own flat.
âHe is still at Lambeâs now and, last month, my wife and I were invited to his wedding, which was very special to see him so happy and leading a normal life.â
More information about Standing Tall can be found at: https://www.standingtall.org.uk/
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Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) needs to become âthe normâ in organisations to escape âdisappointingâ government criticism that it is a waste of time.Thatâs the guidance coming from the latest episode of âAston means businessâ, a podcast from Aston University presented by journalist Steve Dyson.Prof Shivani Sharma, the new deputy dean of people, culture and inclusion at the universityâs College of Business and Social Sciences, explained that EDI cultures must become âeverybodyâs businessâ to address the existing gender and ethnicity pay gaps.Responding to recent government criticisms of EDI schemes, Prof Sharma said: âNot enough investment has gone into these roles because, if we look at the history, it tells us that just relying on everybody to do the right thing doesnât work.âAlso interviewed in the podcast was Omar Rashid, a director of The HR Dept, a human resources franchise for Birmingham Central & Wolverhampton. Mr Rashid, who specialises in diversity and recruitment, said that government criticism of EDI initiatives was âdisappointingâ.But he acknowledged: âI understand where theyâre coming from because, if itâs seen as a scheme, as something weâve got to do, and itâs not done properly, then maybe it is a waste of time and a waste of money. It has to be seen as the norm.âHe said people need to realise they live in a multicultural world, with a diverse workforce, supply chain and customers, and that if implemented properly the benefits of EDI are there.Mr Rashid, who is also president of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce in Birmingham, specialises in diversity and recruitment. He added: âThere is opportunity there through different skills. âEach individual, whether itâs race, religion, will bring their own perspectives, their own unique skills, even people with a disability. It shouldnât be seen as a barrier.âHe said examples of a âtick box mentalityâ were where businesses might adopt Black History Month but do nothing for the other 11 months of the year, or provide a prayer room during Ramadan but not at any other time.He added: âWhen itâs tick box, itâs not worth it because youâll have a business or someone who will do something for a short period of time. They half-heartedly did something without the conviction. Diversity shouldnât be just a little bit here and there.âProf Sharma went on to say that âworld daysâ such as International Womenâs Day can act as a catalyst to focus attention on an issue.But she added: âItâs really important that why youâre doing that is clear, and that the strategy of raising awareness, to remove barriers to women, equitable inclusion in the workplace or in society, continues throughout the year.âShe said that Aston University had recently gained an Athena Swan Gold award for promoting gender equality in higher education, but that the âscaleâ of the problem meant there was still lots more to achieve.She explained that proportions of women entering as students into higher education was really positive, as were degree completion rates. But she pointed to the fact that around 80 per cent of university vice chancellors identified as men, with low representations of ethnic minority women among professors.Professor Sharma added: âIt will take a sustained effort to undo that over time.âShe also praised the Inclusive Aston networking initiative at Aston University, with senior leaders mentoring colleagues of minority ethnic heritage.Mr Rashid said SMEs needed to look at the opportunities that a diverse workforce and culture can bring to their business.He added: âOne SME business engaged with someone from an Asian background, wanted to tap into India, and guess what? He has the connections and they were able to open a branch in India.âHuman Resource Management MScđ https://tinyurl.com/467trt72Human Resources and Business Management BSc (Hons)đ https://tinyurl.com/yr7cjsxwThe Aston Edge đ http://tinyurl.com/3f6243na
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A former RAF pilot and combat base commander is helping to provide a new generation of supply chain professionals for some of the worldâs biggest companies.
Richard Atkinson said his military background was very ârelevantâ to his current role as deputy director of the Supply Chain Leadership programme at Aston University.
The former air commodore, who once flew Tornado and Phantom fighter jets and was station commander of RAF Leuchars in Scotland, appears in the latest episode of the Aston means business podcast series, presented by journalist Steve Dyson.
Mr Atkinson, now a teaching fellow at Aston University, said that he was enjoying passing on his knowledge of how to tackle modern day logistics issues to âlearner colleaguesâ, along with the experience of many other experts.
He said:
âWhen I was director of Air Operations in Afghanistan, where we were supporting the development of Afghanistan, the people I spoke to the most were our logisticians, understanding the novel supply chains required.
âAnd even today, with troubles in the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and with the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, all of these conflicts depend upon supply chains, but they all impact supply chains as well.
âThatâs why our programme is so relevant to create the future generation of supply chain leaders.â
Mr Atkinson explained that NATOâs role in Afghanistan meant military forces had to be adaptable every day in terms of supply chains.
He said the big challenge was global warming which would âstrategically impact migration and supply chains across the worldâ.
âIn future, we need to hit situations where we can deliver water, food and medicine where they are needed, at the right time, safely, securely and sustainably. So, we need our political leaders, our generals, our admirals, our air marshals, but also supply chain professionals to come up with these solutions, these alternative routes.â
Mr Atkinson said Aston University was the UKâs leading faculty in supply chains with its BSc degree apprenticeship in Supply Chain Management. The programme started four years ago with four companies and now has 30 to 40 companies and hundreds of âlearner colleaguesâ.
Companies using the programme include pharmaceutical giant GSK, Coca-Cola, Jaguar Land Rover, DHL, and many other companies.
Mr Atkinson highlighted how GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) had âwonderful scientists and chemistsâ to create life-changing drugs, such as the new Shingles vaccine, but that they equally needed âamazing logisticians to make sure they get to the right people in the right place at the right timeâ.
Tim Buchanan, apprenticeship levy lead for GSK, was also interviewed as part of the podcast.
He explained how GSK is based in 133 countries around the world, which means global issues impacted in terms of bringing raw materials in, processing them into the drugs that appear on shelves, and then moving them back out to markets.
Mr Buchanan praised the programme at Aston University and said:
âGetting the new generation of supply chain apprentices up to speed, having them gain the experience ⊠is crucial to the way we go forward.
âWe continually know weâve got to have a group of new people coming in with the skills that Aston University is providing.â
The first few apprentices, who are already full-time employees, will complete the programme this year.
Mr Buchanan said the three main reasons for going on the programme were academics from Aston University going on site to meet GSK line managers, the course having âmaturedâ after listening to feedback and âvery high enthusiasmâ from the apprentices about the learning.
He added: âWe wouldnât be returning if we didnât think there was value in the programme.â
Mr Atkinson agreed, pointing out that Aston University was âfilling a gap in the marketâ, which was crucial with the UK having âteetered into a recessionâ and businesses struggling.
He said: âLet us bring our talent to you to help develop your talent for the future solutions.â
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A graduate of Aston Universityâs Executive MBA has explained how the programme helped his journey from selling Pokemon trading cards at primary school to a rising career with a luxury car-maker.Jack Miller, a manager at Warwickshire-based Aston Martin, who also combined an apprenticeship degree as part of his MBA, has already enjoyed one promotion while still on the programme, with another rise up the corporate ladder in the pipeline.He was talking about his experiences in the first episode of the latest âAston means business' podcast series, presented by journalist Steve Dyson. The new series â the seventh since 2019 â focuses on how the university helps to prepare executives and businesses for Industry 4.0 with Aston Universityâs 2030 strategy front of mind.Mr Miller said: âIâve always been very entrepreneurial, starting from the primary school playground where I was selling everything from PokĂ©mon cards to Belgian waffles and Oreos. Cars is passion number two, something I was obsessed with. Car was my second word, after burger, so it was either Burger King or go into the car industry!âI remember when my mum got her first car it was the greatest thing that had ever happened. And I remember driving past the local Aston Martin garage and basically dribbling on the car window, thinking: âWow, what are those? I wish I had one of those!ââMr Miller, who already had a Batchelorâs degree in business management and entrepreneurship, said it had been his âdreamâ to do an MBA, specifically one that incorporated an apprenticeship element to make it more practical. He said the Executive MBA at Aston University had resulted in a ârounded knowledge improvement professionallyâ as well as benefits to his personal competence.âPersonally, itâs amazing, and professionally, you get an incredible qualification out of this. And, frankly, career development. That was one of the big reasons why I did this. Already, during the programme, I managed to get a promotion and I think the next one is hopefully in the offing.âMr Miller told how the ability to specialise and âdive into a topicâ during the MBA was particularly important and gave him âimmense enjoymentâ. He said that doing the dissertation, the practical business problem-solving element of the programme, was âextremely powerfulâ.âThrough the MBA, I realised that strategic thinking and business strategy were areas I was extremely passionate about and had a real keen interest in. My project gave me the ability to conduct interviews with all the senior leadership of the business, to understand the level of understanding with the strategic direction, and to highlight a range of recommendations.âMr Miller said Aston Martin also benefitted during the MBA programme, through him designing a process to solve a particular business problem and then applying it to the workplace âthat exact dayâ.Ian Cornelius, a teaching fellow and director of the executive MBA at Aston, was also interviewed on the podcast. He said the programme provided a âwonderful marriage of academic theoretical discipline âŠwith real practical relevance in the real world of interest to, and value to, organisations."Perhaps the unique feature, which we are very proud of, is the Aston Edge, which is our personal development and leadership programme module.âMr Cornelius said the MBA was funded via the apprenticeship levy, held by the government, which âadded an extra dimension to what we can do at Astonâ.For anyone considering taking up an MBA, Mr Millerâs advice was forthright. âPure and simple, do it,â he said. âThe sooner you do it the better.âAston MBA đ http://tinyurl.com/4xe84r2sThe Aston Edge đ http://tinyurl.com/3f6243naAston Business School đ http://tinyurl.com/52ua7xxpJack Miller đ http://tinyurl.com/rm7j59t9Ian Cornelius đ http://tinyurl.com/3nszf5uvListen to Aston means business đ http://tinyurl.com/56w3h43v
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Francis Mulleady, a Senior Teaching Fellow in Digital Marketing at Aston University, explains how companies need to embrace social media like LinkedIn and TikTok to drive their businesses forward. The programme director of the universityâs MSc Strategic Digital Marketing also explains how his course will produce future leaders in digital marketing.
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Frances Glover is co-owner of A Natural Undertaking, a Birmingham firm of funeral directors that recently benefitted from Aston University's 12-week Green Advantage course. Frances explains how electric hearses, cardboard coffins and a new process of 'cremation by water' are all part of a growing move towards environmentally friendly funerals. She says the Aston University course is âinvaluableâ to help companies take the next green step.
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Jocelyne Fleming, the course director of Aston Business School's MSc in Entrepreneurship, recalls how one student created recyclable bamboo toothbrushes for hotels in a business created as part of his degree. She also explains how Aston University recently won Entrepreneurial University of the Year for its commitment to entrepreneurial activity, and advised that would-be students needed passion and an eye for business gaps.
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Yasmin Ansari, Aston Business School's MBA careers consultant, explains how students benefit from a module called Aston Edge, focusing on career skills and behaviour science. She said MBA students are fully engaged, with âsuper ambitious and super drivenâ career aspirations, and that their courses focus on real-life applications and case-based learning.
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Dr Jude Preston, a lecturer in the Work and Organisation Department at Aston Business School, explains how the Aston Global Advantage module gives its Masters students a unique head start in landing their dream jobs.
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An automotive firm has experienced a boost in productivity without having to increase staff or buy new machines, thanks to a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Aston Business School. Iain Collis, managing director at Metal Assemblies, and Professor Ben Clegg, of Aston Business School, explain how the project has succeeded.
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Tomorrowâs boardroom superstars are emerging from executive leadership apprenticeships at Aston Business School. Discover more about the Masters-level programme from Terry Hodgetts, director of Corporate Client Solutions, and Dr Lloyd Parsons, director of the MBA and Chartered Management Institute programmes.
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Sports marketing expert Michael Inpong, a new teaching fellow at Aston Business School, argues that while many huge sports events like the World Cup are sponsored, this form of marketing is âvery weakâ. He says future marketeers need to unleash the power of sport for their businesses â using storytelling to impact on society.
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Dr Hayley James, a senior research fellow in the Centre for Personal Financial Wellbeing at Aston Business School and an expert in pensions, discusses her âmissionâ to improve financial planning for later life.
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Dr Dean Garratt, a senior teaching fellow and expert in economics at Aston University, says a recession is âpretty imminentâ for the UK resulting in a âpainfulâ year ahead. But he is optimistic that both inflation and interest rates will fall in the second half of next year.
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Prof Kathy Daniels, an expert in employment law and employee relations at Aston University, discusses the recent increase in strike action and considers whether Britain is facing a 1970s-style 'winter of discontent'
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Successful business leaders need to rely on the power of trust, rather than just trusting in power. Dr John Blakey, who researched the subject for his doctorate at Aston Business School, explains the nine behavioural habits needed to become a trusted executive in the latest episode of 'Aston means business'.
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Simple energy savings by SMEs could close half the UK's power stations, according to Dr Mark Smith, business engagement manager on the Low Carbon SMEs project at Aston University. The latest episode of the 'Aston means business' podcast also interviewed Cassie Kirk-Gould, the owner of Sweetmeats Inc, about how her expanding fudge-making firm is completely plastic-free.
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Taking staff wellbeing seriously can help drive business success. That's the message in the latest 'Aston means business' podcast from Marc Hornby, who co-founded hospitality group Caviar & Chips after taking an MBA at Aston Business School. The business, which survived Covid-19 and has since grown to employ 100 staff, has just won a national wellbeing award.
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Rejection should be treated as a stepping stone to success, according to Dr Rushana Khusainova, a lecturer in marketing and sales at Aston Business School. She explains how entrepreneurs and business people should develop positive âself-talkâ as a vital mindset for dealing with rejection.
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